API Cultural Center

The API Cultural Center, better known as the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, is a community center dedicated to exploring, teaching, and presenting the arts and culture of diverse local Asian and Pacific Islander communities. In a typical year, the organization serves more than 7,500 people through festivals, performances, classes, workshops, screenings, exhibitions, and lectures. This grant to API Cultural Center supports the Performing Arts Program’s Communities strategy.

API Cultural Center, doing business as the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, is the only pan-Asian cultural and arts center in the City of Oakland and Alameda County. Located in Oakland’s Chinatown district, the organization annually serves 30,000 community members through a diverse suite of free and low-cost programs: festival celebrations; multi-generational classes and workshops in a variety of Asian art forms; support services for emerging and established local artists; and collaborations with community-based organizations. With renewed support, the organization plans to maintain its diverse programming, expand after-school arts and cultural activities, and continue to build its financial sustainability.

The Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC) is the only pan-Asian culture and arts center in the City of Oakland and Alameda County. Located in Oakland’s Chinatown district, the organization annually serves 30,000 community members through a diverse suite of free and low cost programs that includes festival celebrations, multi-generational classes and workshops in a variety of Asian art forms, a residency program that fosters emerging and established local artists, and collaborations with community-based organizations. Now facing precipitous declines in its revenue, the organization plans to reduce its programming and staffing to align expenses with revenues, build a three-month cash reserve, and engage the board and remaining staff in intensive donor cultivation.